Polytheism is too Civilized and Pantheism is too Wild

Polytheism is too civilized and pantheism is too wild. The polytheist gods are appeased with offerings because their laws are arbitrary; there is nothing really meaningful or eternal about their commandments. On the other hand, the laws of the Pantheist God are completely unchanging but they are also impassive. They are completely natural in precisely the same way that the laws of gravity are natural so that no matter how eternal they are they still have very little to do with righteousness. But the God of the Bible is something else entirely. His laws are both eternal and good; it is true that to ignore them naturally leads to spiritual death just as ignoring the laws of the forest naturally leads to death, but it is also true that they should lead to such a thing and it is likewise true that to follow them should lead to eternal life. His laws are unbending, for they are holy and wise, but His love has rescued the accused. While not defying the old ways, He made a new way.